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    Udon Yama

    4.2 (214 reviews)
    ModerateJapanese, Noodles
    Closed 9:30 am - 10:00 pm

    Udon Yama Photos

    Business Info

    UDON YAMA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    P Y.

    Great late night spot. Food is so fast and tasty. Just go down the line and grab ur food. Plenty of space to sit. Got the beef udon combo and it was a good amount of food for 9.95!

    nikutama cold
    jessica l.

    I came at 7:30pm on a Tuesday and there was plenty of seating. The service is extremely fast and the workers are nice. The restaurant is well decorated and very spacious. I got the cold nikutama and it was good, but not my favorite cold udon (that goes to yume in boston). The broth was lukewarm and lacked a little bit of flavor to me. The noodles themselves were cooked well and the meat was yummy --umami and slightly sweet. I wish the broth had a little more depth, but for the convenience I would come again.

    Beef lift
    Sam Z.

    I'm a local guy, that never comes to Waikiki, but I gotta say udon Yama is a good dine and dash. The line was out the door, and pretty casual.. Service was fast, pick your add-ons as well as pick your meal. Tonight, I had the beef udon which was flavorful and delicious and reasonably priced. Service was friendly, and courteous. Do I like coming to Waikiki ? No. But if I'm in the neighborhood, I would come back again. Follow me on Insta: @noodlesoupr Follow me on Yelp!

    Nikutama Udon
    Kathleen P.

    This place is basically Marugame Udon but with a shorter or even no line! I do think Marugame's tempura is crispier, but, after trying Udon Yama for the first time, I came back the next day. It was pretty good! Monday around 7:30pm was way busier than Tuesday at 6pm. If you want something refreshing, get the cold lemon udon. I never thought I'd have lemon in udon, but as someone who loves tangy flavors, I really enjoyed opening up the slices and biting into them. I also tried the hot chicken teriyaki and the hot nikutama udon with both toppings on all which I would order again. I want to try everything on the menu! Prices seem to run about $1 more than SF's Marugame, but that's what you get in a tourist area. Still worth it. After you order and get your food, grab utensils, sauces, and self-serve water, then grab a table.

    Niku udon
    Sarah L.

    We know that there are a lot of really good Japanese food in Honolulu and we were really craving udon and decided to get this place a try. It's located in the basement of a food hall. We didn't wanna wait for the line for the other place and we're looking for something light and quick in my opinion. I honestly thought that the service was really quick and nice and also the concept is pretty similar to Marugame Udon in my opinion. The only thing is that the fried things are not always fresh . But I still decided to get the squid tempera which I enjoyed and the fried egg. I got the niku udon. I thought the broth was really good. It was light and also flavorful at the same time. The noodles were pretty good, but if you like it on the chewier it is on the softer end. But if you're looking for a quick udon place, this place has a lot of seating and I recommend .

    Fish cake tempura
    Evana L.

    This is my regular udon spot. I love the Nikutama and the Lemon bowls. I've tried the hot and cold broth of Nikutama and both are so satisfying. The Lemon bowl that only comes in cold is especially refreshing on a hot day in Waikiki. The broth is addicting and it's perfectly seasoned so that it's not too sour but it has just the right amount of acidity to make the simple bowl stand out. Their noodles have a consistent texture every time which I can rely on and appreciate. I've tried many of their tempuras and my favorites are the egg, zucchini, and seafood pancake. On top of that, the restaurant is such an easy and casual stop for lunch or dinner as they're right in front of the entrance of Stix, they have plenty of tables, and the self service bars for the tempura, utensils, and sauce are awesome.

    Nikutama Udon with (clockwise, from top) Chicken Tempura with Sweet Sauce, Zucchini Tempura, Sweet Potato Tempura, and Shrimp Tempura
    Mike L.

    Considering how long they've been around and how Hawaii is always so hot/warm, it's amazing to me how Marugame Udon still manages to attract a crowd. On multiple occasions, the line practically stretched around the corner! So, it's no wonder that, as we walked through the Stix Asia food hall, Udon Yama and its relatively modest line caught our eye. The same type of set-up and menu, yet in a much cooler space, with less than half the wait and plenty of available seating? How could we not give this place a shot? While the obvious similarities they share with Marugame Udon gave us hope, it should be said that even if they didn't, Udon Yama legitimately looked pretty appealing on its own. As we made our way down the line past the trays of tempura and side dishes, not only did everything look pretty good, but they felt a bit more varied as well. What's more, the range of entrees offered so many enticing options. While we were obviously here to try their udon (which they had almost a half dozen varieties of, served both hot or cold), I have to admit I felt more than a little tempted by their Katsu Curry Rice and Beef Bowl. -- (#1) NIKUTAMA UDON with Sweet Beef, Onion, and Hot Spring Egg (Hot)...$14.95 This was great! I loved the broth, which had a nice beefy flavor with a bit of sweetness to it, the noodles were well cooked with a nice bite, and there was fairly generous amount of beef in the bowl. Delicious! -- ZUCCHINI TEMPURA...$2.50 Hardly amazing, but not too shabby either. This legitimately might have been the longest zucchini tempura I've seen, but what I liked most was that it wasn't at all overcooked or mushy. -- SHRIMP TEMPURA...$2.50 Pretty straightforward, but still terrific! Since it's their most popular tempura, the workers were constantly refilling the tray, so these were especially hot and crispy. As for the shrimp itself, it was really plump and meaty. -- SWEET POTATO TEMPURA...$3 Of all of the vegetable tempura items we had, this was easily my favorite! The potato was soft, with a sort of creaminess to it, but still had some bite to it. -- CHICKEN TEMPURA WITH SWEET SAUCE...$4.50 Even though it's called Chicken Tempura, this felt a little closer to Karaage. Either way, this was pretty solid. The batter wasn't quite as crispy as I would've liked, but the chicken itself was really juicy and it tasted far better than the one I've had in the past at Marugame Udon. -- (#4) BEEF UDON with Sweet Beef and Onion in Kake Broth (Hot)...$10.75 Pretty similar to the Nikutama, though not entirely alike. Besides the obvious absence of the egg, the other thing we noticed was that this broth didn't taste quite as sweet. A little more plain in that sense, but still pretty good! -- MUSHROOM TEMPURA...$2.50 This just wasn't very good, though, to be fair, I don't think mushroom tempura ever really works since they're like sponges. So, as much as I appreciated how big this was, it felt a little soggy and oily. -- MIXED VEGETABLE TEMPURA...$3.50 Kind of similar to Yachae Twigim (Korean shredded veggie tempura), but not quite as good. That's not to say that this tasted bad, though; it's just that this one had a bit more batter, so it was harder for the veggies to stand out. -- SOFT BOILED EGG TEMPURA...$2.50 I only had a bite of this one, but what I had was pretty decent. I don't usually go for egg tempura because of how the batter doesn't usually stick to the egg, but I liked how the yolk on this one was so gooey. While what we had at Udon Yama wasn't as good as what I had when I first visited Marugame years ago, the same could be said for the trips I've made to the latter's locations in the Bay Area. Plus, when you factor in the shorter wait times, not having to wait outside, how much more seating there is here, and, most importantly, the fact that the food here isn't dramatically far off, I'd probably opt to come back here just to save on time and for the convenience...and to try their Katsu Curry Bowl!

    Rachelle C.

    Friends, I am team Udon Yama! A hidden gem in the STIX ASIA food hall there are usually no lines because of their friendly and fast service. I will say its a nice little escape from the crazy streets of Waikiki. A calm vibe all around. Such delicious comforting broth and freshly made udon noodles! Other popular udon restaurants (no shade), are also good but make me feel heavy, sleepy and slow right after. Udon Yama's broth was rich, earthy, yet very light and full of umami! The gyudon was also packed with flavor, happy that the sweet onions were not overpowering the beef flavors.

    Nikutama Udon + a variety of tempura. YuMmm! =)
    Jill F.

    @fortunefoodfinds: "Trust me, UDON-a like this! I always order a large Nikutama Udon to share + a variety of tempura from UDON YAMA located at Stix Asia in Waikiki. A place I L.O.V.E. to go with my family, where we enjoy n' eat happily!" Staff: fully staffed Interior: many table seating Exterior: located at the Stix Asia Food Hall Wait time: 5-10 mins Parking: Waikiki Shopping Plaza garage, validation available Overall comments: always go here when we visit this food hall. Udon is very good n' flavorful. Beef is tasty. Egg on top completes the dish perfectly. Large size is enough to feed two. They have a wide variety of self-serve tempura. My faves include the shrimp n' soft boiled egg, while my kids eat the croquettes. I actually eat the tempura with katsu sauce that makes it extra yummy. We usually finish everything, but if you do end up with leftovers they have everything you need to take it home. Great udon spot!

    Gina N.

    Udon Yama is located in an indoor asian food hall. Our party of 6 was starving, so we were eccstatic to see that there was no line. It's al la carte style - you start with a tray and grab item items along the queue, mainly different kinds of tempura, as you walk down the line. At the end of the line is where you order your udon and it's done in minutes. I ordered the Nikutama and it was delicious! Delightfully umami with notes of sweetness. I will say that the portion sizes are a bit small. The regular looks like a small and the large looks like a regular, I reccomend sizing up if you have a bigger appetite, but the regular was perfect for me! The tempura was a bit of a miss for me. A wee bland and stale. Might've been because we came towards the end of the day. We came in lieu of waiting in the long line for Maragame Udon, and it was definitely worth it in my opinion. No wait, affordable, and solid udon. Great place to grab udon in Waikiki. Not to mention you can walk around the food hall for boba, drinks, or desserts afterwards.

    Niki Tama
    Candi K.

    No broth and the lady said she'll have to charge me more for more broth. How much money are you losing giving me a little more broth? The stinginess and lack of customer service wow.

    Pork Katsu Udon Curry
    Linguini B.

    Katsuuuu. What a word to say, aye? Top 10 word in the global dictionary. Furthermore, pork cutlet? What an idea. Then to top it off you're gonna toss it in a brown curry? Yea, just an average version of this dish can get the job done. I typically avoid Katsu Curry even though it seems a perfect dish for me. I was once a little college boy that dreamed of eating Katsu, of eating curry and eating udon in an area known for Asian cuisine. My excitement was always met with disappointment. I've never not had an oversalted version of it. This curry, to my surprise, was perfectly salted. Would've enjoyed a little more heat, but the color of my skin typically makes servers avoid serving me the real spice. I plan to test this theory by getting outrageously tan and returning. I will not report back either way the experiment goes because I won't be back here. And because I already have the answer from similar experiences. Not complaining, you get what yo get and you don't get upset Mr. Ford. Anyways, I've stalked the Stix (Asian Stix) for daysssss. Hunched over, skipping through crowds like they were cones. Making some ethnic eastern Asian loves full head over heels for me. Or so you'd think. Continuing on... My side piece isn't as adventurous as I - A man with a cultured pallet. So, I snuck away in the crisp of daylight and hit it myself. This locale allowed for a quick in and out, others were sitdown. This was cafeteria style, which made me shocked by the quality of what I ate even though it wasn't superstardom. The pork was pretty good, not good and not great. Pork quality I enjoyed but was probably slightly overly fried. Breading was good. Went well with the sauce I drizzed on top like a vet in the game. Guy knows ball. The udon within the Katsu Curry Udon dish was also good. Not blow the hair off the nips type good but good enough that I finished them thick noodz. I could give this joint a 4/5 but I'm being stinggg and cringgg - if you're here for like 2 weeks would def say worth a go. Go go powaaaa rangaaaz!

    Nikutama
    Elise L.

    Yummy udon restaurant, kinda hard to find though. Ordered the famous Nikutama and it did not disappoint. I give it a score of 9/10, deducted a point for how sweet it kind of was. The regular size was just enough. Enjoyed the tempura on the side too (which you pay extra for). Would come again!

    Nikutama Udon

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    Page 1 of 6

    Udon Yama Reviews in Other Languages

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    Totoya

    4.6(304 reviews)
    1.9 miKaimuki

    Amazing amazing amazing! Service was amazing and everything ran so smoothly. The ambiance is calm,…read morecozy, and intimate as you're sitting at the chef's bar. The food -- amazing. The soup pairing just makes sense and this is such a comforting meal for me since I LOVE sushi and miss Japan.

    The five star rating is two fold. First is that the food was absolutely delicious. The food…read morequality and portions were perfect. The fish was fresh and flavorful. And how do I know that it's fresh? Because as we were at the restaurant, deliveries were being delivered nonstop. My kids devoured the salmon bowl with the salmon roe. My 8 year old's bowl was wiped clean. My 7 year old had only 2 slices of salmon and a few ikuras left. The 5 year old polished off her few pieces of salmon and roe along with her miso soup. And momma's Fukuju? Absolutely demolished. I should have ordered it with extra ikura because the quality and flavor that it provided to the bowl was something that I've never had before. I am usually not a fan of ikura, finding it too salty, but the ikura at Totoya was perfectly balanced. Second, the service was great. I had to give it to the lovely staff who were able to keep it all together when a party of 5 adults and 7 kids (aged between 5 to 11) rolled in, and of course the kids all chose to not sit with their respective parents. The food came fast and kept the peace of very hungry children. The place itself is a small little restaurant with just bar seating, no more than 16 seats, so definitely cozy. My friend sitting all the way on the other side of the bar said she could hear my conversation perfectly well, even though all the kids were loudly chatting. We will definitely be back the next time we make it out to Honolulu. Thanks to the restaurant again for providing such a memorable meal. It was all I could think about on the flight home because it was that good.

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    Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro - kurobuta tonkatsu

    Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro

    4.3(4.2k reviews)
    0.2 miWaikiki
    $$$
    Free parking
    19 years in business

    I'm not sure what happened to my original review when I tried this spot 2 years ago but this update…read morewas well deserved! During both visits, the employees were so accommodating. Even with a decent amount of seating, there is minimal space so they ask that you leave your strollers outside. When we called the first time saying our daughter was asleep they arranged everything in order to fit the stroller inside. The second visit, I had an even bigger stroller because it was a double stroller for my daughter and son. When I said my son was asleep they again, quickly tried to arrange space for the stroller until we realized he woke up. I truly appreciate them being so welcoming because I've come across many establishments that are not especially towards kids. As for the food, the first time the tonkatsu was a miss for me. I was comparing it to a popular spot on the island that books out months in advance that I tried just before my first visit here and it just seemed a lot more oily and not as tender. We were actually going to eat at the other business again but with two kids and walking non stop on our trip already, I was so happy we had an option closer to us. Both times, we were coming from Hilton Hawaiian Village. They have the cutest car bento boxes for the kids, and they let you choose the car color. My daughter loved the mini umbrella that came with her plate. My son was days before turning 1 year old so a lot of things ended up on the floor and even then, they were so kind about it. The best thing though for my husband and I AND my son, was the loco moco which we were told was limited and a new item for dinner since it was primarily only served as a lunch option? The flavor of the gravy alone was sooo good and rich. My son ended up eating my whole portion of rice and gravy with no crumbs left behind or on the floor lol. The other katsu items we ordered were nice and lightly coated and were not heavily oily at all. The only thing that I felt lacked was their curry especially in comparison to their gravy. I would definitely recommend coming here and I can't wait to come back. That was one of our favorite new dishes this trip and we come every year!

    Such a great tonkatsu experience as if I was in Kyoto on a quick trip. The restaurant flavors felt…read morevery traditional and genuinely Japanese in the best way. I got the pork loin with shrimp combo (the mixed portion instead of the large), and everything was perfectly crispy, flavorful, and satisfying without feeling too heavy. One of my favorite parts was grinding the sesame seeds myself in the little ceramic bowl with the wooden grinder, then mixing in the tonkatsu sauce. It made the whole meal feel interactive and intentional, and the sauce was SO good on the pork loin. I also ended up getting a refill of the cabbage because the sesame dressing they served with it was honestly addictive. I went around 8 PM to avoid the dinner rush and was pleasantly surprised I got a table pretty easily. Taking my time with the smaller mixed portion made the whole experience feel relaxed and enjoyable instead of rushed. Overall, really delicious food, great atmosphere, and one of my favorite meals I've had in Waikiki so far. Pictured are the before and after of my dish. Probably a better "go with friends place" than a date.

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    Izakaya Mitch's - Uzaku (unagi, cucumber, vinegar)

    Izakaya Mitch's

    4.8(42 reviews)
    6.4 mi

    If there's one thing about me, it's that I love an izakaya. Open late and small plates so you can…read moretry a few different things, my favorite! I've been to Mitch's a few times and when I saw that they opened up an Izakaya next door, I knew I had to try it and made a reservation on Yelp. Izakaya Mitch's specializes more in cooked dishes while the other side is more about the fresh / raw fish. But that didn't stop us from ordering the assorted sashimi. All the fish were from Japan and yes you can taste the difference. The fatty tuna was obviously my favorite but even the regular tuna and the hamachi was so buttery, it just melts in your mouth. Plus, it comes with real wasabi. Not horseradish, real wasabi. For the cooked dishes we got the hokkaido crab tempura with a side of matcha salt. One of the best tempuras I've ever had. The kamameshi, a rice dish with their fish of the day. We got the half order and it's kinda like a bibimbap where they mix the rice for you at your table. I saw that people were raving about this on Yelp and put in our order right when we got in because it takes 25-ish minutes to prepare. On special, they had a karei karaage. Karei is a flat fish and I've never had a fish karaage before, it was perfectly fried and dipped in the ponzu sauce it was so good. Ambiance is a no-frills kinda spot but very clean and feels homey and the service is amazing! Attentive and super personable.

    So happy there is an izakaya that we don't have to drive to downtown or Waikiki. Izakaya Mitch's is…read moreclose to the airport in the industrial area. I made reservations, so we were seated right away. Luckily, it wasnʻt crowded when we sat, so our waitress was able to answer all our questions about different dishes we were interested in ordering. Our party of 3 got to try different things from the specials and regular menu. The tai karaage was so tender and seasoned really well, the kamameshi is such a comfort dish, and the burrata with chilled tomato was really refreshing. One thing we all liked was that even though there were a lot of people in the restaurant (most came in after we ordered), we still were able to speak to one another without talking loud. The staff mentioned that they will be getting a sushi chef, so I guess we need to try this place again,

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    Izakaya Tenkichi - Beef tempura

    Izakaya Tenkichi

    4.6(241 reviews)
    1.0 miMo'ili'ili
    $$

    We went in the with no reservations but they were able to sit us down for a bit to grab some drinks…read moreand a few appetizers. This place took me back to Japan! The employees were awesome and attentive and had good recommendations. I got a calpico grapefruit soda with alcohol. It was delicious, but pretty sweet. Definitely worth a try if you like sweet drinks. My favorite was the calpico shikuwasa soda with Soju! It was so delicious. It was sour and sweet in the perfect way. Tasted like a creamy sour lemonade. I would come back just for this drink! I also really enjoyed their rolls and sushi. I got a few rolls and hand roll and they were all delicious and fresh. I cannot wait to return again!

    The atmosphere was very fun and laid back! It's a great place to get drinks with family and friends…read moreand pick on izakaya and sushi dishes. Fun tip: If you purchase a bottle of sake, you get to randomly draw a prize! Prizes range from a free scallop sashimi to a "hug" from a staff member lol the staff members were all super friendly, but were a bit busy and rushed. The food was good. The dish they're known for, the ikura bowl, was the best standout dish to order. The other items were good but were a bit pricey for the quality and the portion. Overall, a spot I would return to again to try other dishes. My family had a good time there. Tips: the staircase getting up to the restaurant is steep, watch you step and be careful if drinking alcohol lol parking lot is paid and can fill up fast during prime dinner time. Street parking is hit or miss. Reservations are highly recommended.

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    I-NABA - Uni, ikura and hotate don with zaru soba

    I-NABA

    4.4(797 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    TL;DR This might be…read moremy favorite Japanese restaurant in town. Undisputed soba champion. ----- I'm surprised I haven't written a review for i-naba yet. This place has been a staple for my family ever since we moved back to O'ahu a few years ago. Bottom line? The soba noodles here are utterly fantastic. They are, in my humble opinion, the best on the island, and some of the best soba noodles I've ever had. I don't think anywhere else in Honolulu comes close. You come here to eat soba. Period. In addition to the soba being phenomenal, the other offerings at i-naba are also similarly great. Their tempura in particular is outstanding. I typically order the Jumbo Shrimp Tempura Bowl & Soba or the Dx Tempura Bowl & Soba. Plus an upgrade to a large size soba! The tempura is sooo good. It's crispy, light, and airy. The jumbo shrimp is especially succulent and tender. And the ingredients are always perfectly seasoned with the sweet and savory house sauce. Yummmy! If you're looking for the best soba and awesome tempura, this is your spot!!!

    Everytime I asked my Japanese clients which Japanese restaurant they enjoyed most in Honolulu,…read moreInaba consistently came up. And now I know why. I finally had lunch here a couple weeks ago and damn was my tempura and soba set broke da mout. The soba is housemade with a chewy consistency that I love. I had it cold with the dipping sauce and wow wow wow. So good. My friends suggested I get the shrimp and vegetable tempura as well which amazingly stayed crispy the whole time I savored each bite. Probably 30 minutes. Light crisp batter on perfectly cooked shrimp and veggies. Damn it was good. The service was great as well and I cannot wait to go back. Nice warm atmosphere and there's a free parking lot. It gets busy during lunch and dinner, so get there early or make a reservation. Enjoy!

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    Udon Yama - japanese - Updated May 2026

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